System and method for disinfecting a catheter system

Abstract

A system for disinfecting or sterilizing a catheter is provided. A housing includes a chamber having lumens for transmitting one or more UV light sources through the lumens and into a Y-set or a transfer-set. The first UV light source and second UV light source emit UV light into the lumens in order to disinfect or sterilize the Y-set and the transfer-set.

What is claimed: 
     
       1. A system for disinfecting or sterilizing a catheter, comprising:
 a housing having a chamber, a first lumen extending in the chamber in a direction substantially orthogonal to a second lumen in the chamber; 
 a first UV light source attached to the chamber and a second UV light source attached to the chamber, the first UV light source positioned in the chamber to emit UV light into the first lumen and the second UV light source positioned in the chamber to emit UV light into the second lumen; 
 a Y-set attached to the housing so that the Y-set is aligned with the first lumen; 
 a transfer-set from the patient attached to the housing so that the transfer-set is aligned with the second lumen; 
 the first UV light source emits UV light into the first lumen and the Y-set and the second UV light source emits UV light into the second lumen and the transfer-set thereby disinfecting or sterilizing the Y-set and the transfer-set; and 
 wherein a sensor system indicates connection of the Y-set and the transfer-set and a Hall effect sensor indicates when a drain valve is open or closed. 
 
     
     
       2. The system of  claim 1 , wherein a Hall effect sensor indicates the connection between the chamber and the Y-set. 
     
     
       3. The system of  claim 1 , wherein an electronic controller activates and deactivates the first UV light source and the second UV light source. 
     
     
       4. The system of  claim 1 , wherein a power source is mounted in the housing to provide electrical power to the first UV light source and the second UV light source. 
     
     
       5. The system of  claim 4 , wherein the power source includes at least one battery. 
     
     
       6. The system of  claim 1 , wherein a power source external to the housing provides electrical power to the first UV light source and the second UV light source. 
     
     
       7. The system of  claim 1 , wherein the Y-set and the transfer-set are formed of a material that is UV light-transmissive. 
     
     
       8. The system of  claim 7 , wherein the UV light-transmissive material is a polymer taken from the group of polymers including cyclic olefin copolymer, polymethylpentene, UVT polymethymethylacrylate, perfluoroalkoxy, fluorinated ethylene propylene and terpolymer. 
     
     
       9. The system of  claim 1 , wherein the first UV light source and the second UV light source is a low-pressure mercury vapor lamp emitting about 86% of UV light at 254 nm. 
     
     
       10. The system of  claim 1 , wherein an alert system indicates when the first UV light source and the second UV light source are emitting UV light in the chamber. 
     
     
       11. The system of  claim 1 , wherein the chamber is formed from a UV light-transmissive material. 
     
     
       12. The system of  claim 1 , wherein the UV light source is one or more light emitting diodes or pulsed light white. 
     
     
       13. The system of  claim 1 , wherein one or more mirrors are positioned in the chamber to direct the UV light source. 
     
     
       14. The system of  claim 1 , wherein one or more lenses are positioned in the chamber to manage UV light from the UV light source. 
     
     
       15. The system of  claim 1 , wherein the housing is permanently attached to the transfer-set. 
     
     
       16. The system of  claim 1 , wherein the UV light is pulsed using pulse width modulation. 
     
     
       17. The system of  claim 1 , wherein the housing contains one or more heat sinks to dissipate heat generated by the UV light source. 
     
     
       18. The system of  claim 1 , wherein the system includes an electronic controller to automatically activate the first UV light source and the second UV light source after a sensor confirms the Y-set is attached to the housing. 
     
     
       19. The system of  claim 1 , wherein a sensor is configured to operate an alert system to indicate disinfection or sterilization status.